U.S. patent number 4,353,614 [Application Number 06/130,497] was granted by the patent office on 1982-10-12 for unitary molded plastic connector plug support member.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Western Electric Company, Inc.. Invention is credited to John O. Etchison, Jr., Robert H. W. Jones, Jr..
United States Patent |
4,353,614 |
Etchison, Jr. , et
al. |
October 12, 1982 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Unitary molded plastic connector plug support member
Abstract
A unitary molded plastic backplane (12) having high strength and
resistance to flexing, includes spaced pedestals which project from
one side of a main body (34) and which support connector plugs (14)
on the backplane (12). Stepped edge and center portions (56, 57 and
60) of the backplane (12) define elongated recesses (58, 59 and 61)
for receiving other associated support members (22, 24 and 26). The
pedestals (36) and stepped edge portions (56 and 57) define
channels (40, 41 and 42) for receiving wires (18) interconnecting
the connector plugs (14) and input/output connectors (16) on the
backplane (12). Integral support legs (44) project from the one
side of the main body (34) beyond the connector plugs (14).
Projecting cylindrical housings (68) receive mounting screws (66)
to preclude tightening of the screws down onto adjacent wires 18.
Alignment of the backplane (12) in associated equipment is
facilitated by alignment tabs (48), tab-receiving recesses (50) and
projecting lugs (62 and 64).
Inventors: |
Etchison, Jr.; John O.
(Clemmons, NC), Jones, Jr.; Robert H. W. (Greensboro,
NC) |
Assignee: |
Western Electric Company, Inc.
(New York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
22444971 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/130,497 |
Filed: |
March 14, 1980 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/540.1;
439/557; 361/802 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
12/00 (20130101); H01R 12/721 (20130101); H01R
12/73 (20130101); H01R 23/68 (20130101); H01R
13/74 (20130101); H01R 13/514 (20130101); H01R
13/64 (20130101); H01R 13/64 (20130101); H01R
13/514 (20130101); H01R 13/74 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
12/00 (20060101); H01R 12/16 (20060101); H01R
13/64 (20060101); H01R 13/74 (20060101); H01R
13/514 (20060101); H02B 001/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/119,125 ;179/1PC,98
;361/412,415,427 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McQuade; John
Assistant Examiner: McKenzie, Jr.; Frank H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bosben; D. D.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A unitary molded plastic backplane member for equipment of a
type in which substrate circuit devices on one side of the
backplane member are inserted into connector plugs mounted on an
opposite side of the backplane member, which comprises:
an essentially planar main body having opposite first and second
sides and having at least one row of openings extending through the
main body, the openings being dimensioned for the insertion of
substrate circuit devices from the first side of the main body
through the openings; and
at least one row of spaced pedestals integrally molded with the
main body and projecting from the second side of the main body to
define channels between the pedestals, the pedestals having
openings extending therethrough for the reception of the connector
plugs in the openings and merging with respective ones of the
openings in the main body.
2. A unitary molded plastic backplane member as recited in claim 1,
in which:
the main body of the backplane member has at least two rows of the
openings extending therethrough and includes at least two rows of
the spaced projecting pedestals on the second side thereof, the
rows of pedestals defining an elongated main channel therebetween
and the pedestals in each row defining branch channels extending
from the main channel.
3. A unitary molded plastic backplane member as recited in claim 1,
which further comprises:
elongated stepped portions integrally molded with the main body and
extending adjacent opposite edges of the main body, each of the
elongated stepped portions including a first wall portion extending
perpendicularly from the main body and a second wall portion offset
from the main body and projecting perpendicularly from an outer end
of the first wall portion parallel to the main body, the first and
second wall portions defining elongated recesses on the first side
of the main body for receiving other associated support members in
the recesses, and the pedestals and the first wall portions of the
elongated stepped portions being spaced apart and defining
elongated side channels therebetween.
4. A unitary molded plastic backplane member as recited in claim 2,
which further comprises:
elongated stepped portions integrally molded with the main body and
extending adjacent opposite edges of the main body, each of the
elongated stepped portions including a first wall portion extending
perpendicularly from the main body and a second wall portion offset
from the main body and projecting perpendicularly from an outer end
of the first wall portion parallel to the main body, the first and
second wall portions defining elongated recesses on the first side
of the main body for receiving other associated support members in
the recesses, and the pedestals and the first wall portions of the
elongated stepped edge portions being spaced apart and defining
elongated side channels therebetween; and
an elongated central stepped portion integrally molded with the
main body, the central stepped portion extending parallel to the
elongated stepped edge portions of the main body and extending
centrally of the main body in the main channel defined by the rows
of projecting pedestals, the central stepped portion being offset
with respect to the first side of the main body and defining an
elongated central recess on the first side of the main body for
receiving another associated support member in the central
recess.
5. A unitary molded plastic backplane member as recited in claim 3,
which further comprises:
elongated spaced support legs integrally molded with and projecting
from the second wall portions of the elongated stepped edge
portions of the main body on the second side of the main body and
extending perpendicularly to the plane of the main body beyond the
pedestals on the second side of the main body.
6. A unitary molded plastic, backplane member as recited in claim
4, wherein the elongated central stepped portion of the main body
of the backplane member is mountable on the associated support by
mounting devices having retaining heads thereon, which further
comprises:
a plurality of spaced cylindrical housings integrally molded with
and projecting from the elongated central stepped portion of the
main body on the second side of the main body and having inner
cylindrical passageways for the reception of the retaining heads of
the retaining devices within the housings.
7. A unitary molded plastic backplane member as recited in claim 3,
which further comprises:
alignment tabs integrally molded with the second wall portion of
one of the elongated stepped edge portions of the main body and
projecting therefrom for reception in alignment tab-receiving
openings in an adjacent backplane member; and
alignment tab-receiving recesses molded in the second wall portion
of the other of the elongated stepped edge portions of the main
body for receiving alignment tabs on an adjacent backplane
member.
8. A unitary molded plastic backplane member as recited in claim 4,
which further comprises:
spaced alignment lugs integrally molded with at least one of the
elongated stepped portions of the main body and projecting from the
elongated stepped portion on the first side of the main body for
aligning the backplane member with an adjacent support member.
9. A unitary molded plastic backplane for a communications bay
module in which substrate circuit devices on one side of the
backplane are inserted into connector plugs on an opposite side of
the backplane, which comprises:
an essentially planar main body having opposite first and second
sides and having at least two rows of openings extending through
the main body, the openings being dimensioned for the insertion of
substrate circuit devices from the first side of the main body
through the openings;
at least two rows of spaced pedestals integrally molded with the
main body and projecting from the second side of the main body, the
spaced pedestals defining an elongated main channel and branch
channels therebetween, the pedestals having openings extending
therethrough for the reception of connector plugs in the openings,
and the openings in the pedestals merging with respective ones of
the openings in the main body;
elongated stepped portions integrally molded with the main body and
extending adjacent opposite edges of the main body, each of the
stepped edge portions including a first wall portion extending
perpendicularly from the main body and a second wall portion offset
from the main body and projecting perpendicularly from an outer end
of the first wall portion parallel to the main body, the first and
second wall portions defining elongated recesses for the reception
of other associated support members of the communications bay
module therein, and the projecting pedestals and the first wall
portions of the elongated stepped portions being spaced apart and
defining elongated side channels therebetween; and
an elongated central stepped portion integrally molded with the
main body, the central stepped portion extending parallel to the
elongated stepped edge portions of the main body and extending
centrally of the main body in the main channel defined by the rows
of projecting pedestals, the central stepped portion being offset
with respect to the first side of the main body and defining an
elongated central recess on the first side of the main body for
receiving another associated support member of the communications
bay module in the central recess.
10. A unitary molded plastic backplane for a communications bay
module, as recited in claim 9, which further comprises:
elongated spaced support legs integrally molded with and projecting
from the second wall portions of the elongated stepped edge
portions of the main body on the second side of the main body and
extending perpendicularly to the plane of the main body beyond the
pedestals on the second side of the main body.
11. A wired assembly for equipment of a type in which substrate
circuit devices on one side of the wired assembly are inserted into
respective connector plugs mounted on an opposite side of the wired
assembly, which comprises:
a unitary molded plastic support member having an essentially
planar main body with opposite first and second sides and at least
one row of openings extending through the main body, the openings
being dimensioned for the insertion of substrate circuit devices
from the first side of the main body through the openings;
at least one row of spaced pedestals integrally molded with the
main body and projecting from the second side of the main body to
define channels between the pedestals, the pedestals having
openings extending therethrough and merging with respective ones of
the openings in the main body;
a plurality of connector plugs mounted on respective ones of the
pedestals in the openings in the pedestals for the recepton of the
substrate circuit devices in the connector plugs from the first
side of the main body; and
a plurality of wires extending between the connector plugs in the
channels between the pedestals.
12. A wired assembly as recited in claim 11, in which:
the main body of the support member has at least two rows of the
openings extending therethrough and includes at least two rows of
the spaced projecting pedestals on the second side thereof, with
connector plugs mounted on the pedestals, the rows of pedestals
defining an elongated main channel therebetween and the pedestals
in each row defining branch channels extending from the main
channel.
13. A wired assembly as recited in claim 11, which further
comprises:
elongated stepped portions integrally molded with the main body of
the support member and extending adjacent opposite edges of the
main body, each of the elongated stepped portions including a first
wall portion extending perpendicularly from the main body and a
second wall portion offset from the main body and extending from an
outer end of the first wall portion parallel to the main body, the
first and second wall portions defining elongated recesses on the
first side of the main body for the reception of other associated
support members therein, and the pedestals and the first wall
portions of the elongated stepped portions being spaced apart and
defining wire-receiving side channels therebetween.
14. A wired assembly as recited in claim 12, which further
comprises:
elongated stepped portions integrally molded with the main body of
the support member and extending adjacent opposite edges of the
main body, each of the elongated stepped portions including a first
wall portion extending perpendicularly from the main body and a
second wall portion offset from the main body and extending from an
outer end of the first wall portion parallel to the main body, the
first and second wall portions defining elongated recesses on the
first side of the main body for the reception of other associated
support members therein, and the pedestals and the first wall
portions of the elongated stepped portions being spaced apart and
defining wire-receiving side channels therebetween and in
communication with the branch channels between the pedestals;
and
an elongated central stepped portion integrally molded with the
main body and extending parallel to the elongated stepped edge
portions of the main body and centrally of the main body in the
main channel defined by the rows of projecting pedestals, the
central stepped portion including spaced first wall portions
extending perpendicularly from the main body and a second wall
portion offset from the main body and extending between outer ends
of the first wall portions parallel to the main body, the first
wall portions and the second wall portion defining an elongated
central recess on the first side of the main body for receiving
another associated support member in the recess.
15. A unitary molded plastic backplane member as recited in claim
1, wherein each connector plug to be supported includes electrical
terminals mounted in an insulating body, and in which:
the openings in the integrally molded pedestals are formed to
receive the insulating bodies of the connector plugs.
16. A unitary molded plastic backplane member as recited in claim
1, in which:
the spaced pedestals include opposite end portions and opposite
side portions projecting from the second side of the main body,
with the opposite side portions being depressed with respect to the
opposite end portions.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a connector plug support member, and more
specifically to a backplane of unitary molded plastic construction
having high strength and resistance to flexing, for use in a
communications bay module.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The J. O. Etchison, Jr. et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,696 discloses a
system for assembling and wiring connector plugs for use in a
communications bay, in which a row of the connector plugs is
mounted in a respective backplane which has been fabricated from
sheet metal. The connector plugs in respective pairs of the
backplanes then are interwired in a fabricating station to form
prewired assemblies each including two of the backplanes and their
associated connector plugs, interconnected by wiring therebetween.
Generally, these wired connector plug-backplane assemblies then are
mounted in a communications bay frame, and further wired to one
another in the frame, at another fabricating station. In addition,
where it is desired to expand the capacity of existing bay frames
in a central office, wired connector plug-backplane assemblies can
be shipped to the field for installation in the existing bay
frames.
In communications equipment of the type disclosed in the Etchison
et al. patent, the electrical design of the equipment is such that
the wired connector plug-backplane assemblies for each bay frame
had to be mounted in the bay frame and interwired to one another
before the equipment in the bay frame could be electrically tested
for wiring defects. Accordingly, since this wiring and testing
could best be accomplished at the manufacturing location, the
connector plug-backplane assemblies generally were mounted in the
bay frames and interwired in a factory, as above-described.
The subject invention relates to a unitary molded plastic backplane
having high strength and resistance to flexing, for use in more
recently proposed communications equipment. The electrical design
of this equipment is such that two rows of the connector plugs can
be mounted and interwired to produce a self-contained assembly
which can be tested for wiring defects prior to mounting of the
interwired plugs in a bay frame. Accordingly, the bay frames can be
shipped directly to the central office from a frame manufacturing
location, and the wired connector plug-backplane assemblies can be
assembled and tested in a different manufacturing location. The
wired connector plug-backplane assemblies then can be shipped to
the central office for mounting in the bay frames in the central
office. Thus, the necessity for shipping the bay frames to the
wired connector plug-backplane assembling location and then to the
central office after the wired connector plug-backplane assemblies
have been mounted therein, and the necessity for providing storage
and assembling space for the bay frames at the wired connector
plug-backplane assembling location, can be eliminated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In general, the subject invention relates to a unitary molded
plastic connector plug support member having a plurality of spaced
pedestals projecting from one side of a main body portion of the
support member. The pedestals define channels therebetween for
receiving wires and have openings extending therethrough for the
reception of connector plugs in the openings. The pedestals also
produce a ribbed construction having high strength and resistance
to flexing.
More specifically, the support member includes at least two rows of
the spaced projecting pedestals. Spaced support legs are integrally
formed with and project from the one side of the main body portion
beyond the pedestals for supporting the support member on a support
surface with connector plugs which are mounted on the pedestals,
spaced from engagement with the support surface. The support member
includes alignment tabs along one edge thereof and alignment
tab-receiving recesses along an opposite edge thereof, for aligning
the support member with adjacent support members of similar
construction. The support member is of stepped construction along
the first and second edges thereof, and along the center thereof,
to provide recesses for the reception of other associated support
members, and to produce additional strength and resistance to
flexing in the support member. Spaced alignment lugs are integrally
formed with the main body in each of the recesses for aligning the
support member with the support member which is receivable in the
recess. The stepped portions also support associated input-output
connectors, and the center stepped portion includes projecting
cylindrical housings for receiving associated mounting devices to
preclude tightening of the devices down onto adjacent wires.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a backplane assembly in accordance
with the invention, shown in conjunction with associated parts of a
communications bay module;
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a connector plug which may be
utilized in the backplane assembly shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of one side of a backplane in
accordance with the invention;
FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a partial backplane assembly from
the opposite side of the backplane;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG.
4; and
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of FIG.
4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIG. 1, the disclosed embodiment of the invention is
directed to a backplane assembly 10, which includes a backplane
member 12 for supporting edge connector plugs 14, input-output
(I/O) connectors 16 (shown in FIG. 4) and associated
interconnecting wires 18 (shown in FIG. 4), for use in a
communications bay module 20. In addition to the backplane assembly
10, the module 20 includes a top cover 22, an upper support shelf
24 and a lower support shelf 26, of essentially identical
construction. The support shelves 24 and 26 have spaced upwardly
projecting guideways (not shown) for supporting and guiding lower
edges of substrate circuit devices in the form of printed circuit
boards 30 (one shown in FIG. 1) in the module, and the top cover
and the upper support shelf have similar depending guideways (not
shown) for receiving and guiding upper edges of the circuit boards.
The top cover 22 and the support shelves 24 and 26 are attachable,
by means of integral brackets and associated screws, to a pair of
spaced vertically extending frame members 32 of a communications
bay, and the backplane assembly 10 is attachable to the top cover
plate, the support shelves and the frame members by suitable
screws.
The backplane 12, which is of unitary molded construction, may be
formed of any suitable plastic, such as a chemically blown
structural foam type sold by the General Electric Company under the
trade name Noryl FN215 (natural). As is best shown in FIGS. 1 and
3, the backplane 12 includes an essentially planar main body
portion 34 having two rows of rectangular openings 37 extending
therethrough. The rectangular openings 37 are dimensioned for the
insertion of the printed circuit boards 30 (one shown in FIG. 1)
from a first side of the main body 34 through the openings and into
the connector plugs 14, which are supported on an opposite second
side of the main body portion as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this
connection, referring further to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the backplane
main body 34 also has two rows of connector plug support pedestals
36 projecting from the second side thereof, with opposite side
portions of each pedestal being depressed relative to opposite end
portions of the pedestal as shown at the right-hand side of FIG. 5
and the left-hand side of FIG. 6. The pedestals 36 have rectangular
openings 38 formed therethrough for receiving respective ones of
the edge connector plugs 14 supported on the pedestals, with the
openings 38 merging with respective ones of the openings 37 in the
main body 34 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The rows of the pedestals
36 are spaced apart to define an elongated central channel 40
therebetween, and are spaced from the edges of the backplane 12 to
define portions of side channels 41 extending about the periphery
of the backplane. The pedestals 36 in each row of the pedestals
also are spaced apart to define branch channels 42 extending
between the central channel 40 and the adjacent side channels 41,
with the central channel, the side channels and the branch channels
receiving the wires 18 extending between the connector plugs and
the I/O connectors 16, as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. A bottom
of the central channel 40, and bottoms of the side channels 41
extending along the upper and lower edges of the backplane 12 as
viewed in FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 6, each include a row of spaced
openings 43 therein to reduce the weight of the backplane, and to
facilitate air circulation between the printed circuit boards
30.
In addition to providing raised supports for the connector plugs 14
and defining the channels 40, 41 and 42 for the wires 18 extending
between the connector plugs and the I/O connectors 16, as is best
shown in FIG. 5, the pedestals 36 provide the backplane 12 with a
generally ribbed construction of high strength which is resistant
to flexing and warping. This is advantageous from the standpoint of
enabling the backplane assembly 10, consisting of the backplane 12,
the connector plugs 14, the I/O connectors 16 and the wires 18, to
be assembled in a factory and subsequently be properly mounted in a
communications bay in the field. Further, the resistance to flexing
is particularly important when the printed circuit boards 30 (FIG.
1) are inserted into the connector plugs 14 in the field.
As is shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the molded backplane 12 further
includes a plurality of elongated spaced legs 44 integrally formed
with the main body 34 and projecting from the second side of the
main body perpendicularly to the plane of the main body beyond the
pedestals. The legs 44 can be used, for example, to support the
backplane assembly 10 on a support surface, with the connector
plugs 14 and the I/O connectors 16 spaced from contact with the
surface, to preclude damage to the plugs, the connectors and/or
disruption of the wires 18. In addition, the first side of the
backplane 12 includes integrally formed support pads 46 (FIGS. 3, 5
and 6).
The backplane 12 further includes alignment tabs 48 projecting from
a lower edge thereof, as viewed in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, and alignment
tab-receiving recesses 50 formed in the opposite upper edge
thereof, as viewed in these figures. Thus, when the backplane
assembly 10 is mounted in the transmission bay module 20 (FIG. 1),
the alignment tabs 48 of the backplane 12 are receivable in
corresponding recesses 50 in a backplane (not shown) therebeneath,
and the recesses 50 of the backplane receive alignment tabs of a
backplane (not shown) thereabove, to align the backplanes
vertically in the transmission bay. The alignment tabs 48 and the
walls of the recesses 50 of the backplane 12 also are formed with
slots 52 and 54, respectively, for receiving screws (not shown) for
securing the backplane to the top cover plate 22 and the lower
support shelf 26 of the communications bay module 20.
As is best shown in FIG. 6, the main body 34 of the backplane 12
includes stepped portions 56 and 57 adjacent upper and lower edges
thereof to define elongated upper and lower recesses 58 and 59 on
the first side of the main body which receive edge portions of the
top cover plate 22 (FIG. 1) and the lower support shelf 26 (FIG.
1), respectively, when the backplane assembly 10 is mounted
thereon. In this connection, as is shown at the opposite sides of
FIG. 6, each of the stepped portions 56 and 57 includes a first
wall portion extending perpendicularly from the main body 34 and a
second wall portion offset from the main body and projecting
perpendicularly from an outer end of the first wall portion
parallel to the main body, to define the recesses 58 and 59, with
the pedestals 36 and the first wall portions being spaced apart and
defining the above-mentioned elongated side channels 41
therebetween. The second wall portions of the stepped edge portions
56 and 57 also have the above-mentioned elongated support legs 44
integrally molded therewith, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. A
central portion 60 of the main body 34 of the backplane 12 also is
of stepped construction and, as is shown in the center of FIG. 6,
has spaced first wall portions extending perpendicularly from the
main body and a second wall portion offset from the main body and
extending between outer ends of the first wall portions parallel to
the main body, to define an elongated central recess 61 on the
first side of the main body for receiving edge portions of the
upper support shelf 24. This stepped construction further provides
the backplane 12 with additional strength and resistance to
flexing, with its attendant advantages, as noted hereinabove.
Alignment of the backplane 12 with the upper and lower support
shelves 24 and 26 is facilitated by circular alignment lugs 62
(FIGS. 3 and 6) which project from the backplane in the lower and
central recesses 59 and 61 adjacent one end of the backplane for
reception in corresponding circular apertures in the support
shelves. Similarly, elongated rectangular alignment lugs 64 (FIG.
3) project from the backplane 12 in the lower and central recesses
59 and 61 adjacent the opposite end of the backplane for reception
in elongated slots in the support shelves 24 and 26.
In mounting of the backplane assembly 10 in the transmission bay
module 20 (FIG. 1), the backplane 12 is secured to the upper
support shelf 24 by screws 66 (one shown schematically in FIG. 6)
extendable through the backplane into a depending tab portion of
the shelf. To preclude tightening of heads of the screws 66 down
onto one of the wires 18 of the completed backplane assembly 10
during this mounting operation, and possibly damaging and
short-circuiting the wire, the heads of the screws are received in
inner cylindrical passageways in protective cylindrical housings 68
of the backplane 12 projecting from the central stepped portion 60
of the backplane main body 34 and integrally formed therewith, as
illustrated in FIG. 6.
In the wiring of the connector plugs 14 and I/O connectors 16, it
is desirable to utilize wiring pins (not shown) about which the
wires 18 may be routed. Accordingly, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4,
the main body 34 of the backplane 12 is formed with a plurality of
apertures 70 through which these wiring pins may be received when
the backplane is mounted in a fixture (not shown) for the wiring
operation. The backplane 12 also includes screw-receiving apertures
72 adjacent its opposite ends for securing the backplane to the
frame members 32 (FIG. 1) of the communications bay. Adjacent the
right-hand side of the backplane 12 as viewed in FIG. 4, a
right-angle end portion (not shown) of a circular grounding rod 74
is captivated in another aperture in the backplane, with the other
end of the grounding rod being secured to the backplane by a
screw-threaded stud-nut assembly 76 in the backplane adjacent its
left-hand side in this figure. An input power lug 77 also is
mounted in a respective aperture in the backplane 12 adjacent the
left-hand side thereof as viewed in FIG. 4.
Referring to FIG. 2, each of the connector plugs 14, which may be
of any suitable construction, is shown as being of a snap-in type
which includes a molded plastic insulating body 80 having two
spaced rows of electrical terminals 82 mounted therein. At one end
each of the terminals 82 includes a contact blade portion 84 for
making contact with a contact finger (not shown) on one of the
printed circuit boards 30 (FIG. 1) when the board is inserted into
an elongated slot 86 formed in the body 80 of the connector plug
14. At its other end each of the terminals 82 includes an
insulation-displacement contact portion 88 for making electrical
contact with one of the wires 18 when the wire is inserted into
fingers of the contact portion and an adjacent guide slot 90 formed
in the body 80 of the connector plug 14.
At its opposite ends the connector plug 14 includes projecting stop
lugs 92 which limit the extent to which the connector plug
insulating body 80 can be inserted into the opening 38 in one of
the pedestals 36, as is illustrated in FIG. 6. At one end the
connector plug 14 also includes rigid projecting latch portions 94,
and at its opposite end the connector plug includes a pair of
depending resilient fingers 96 having latch portions 98 at their
free ends. The rigid latch portions 94, and the latch portions 98
on the resilient fingers 96, are engageable with retaining portions
of the pedestal 36 to releasably lock the connector plug 14 on the
pedestal when the plug is inserted in the opening 38 in the
pedestal, as shown in FIG. 6. The resilient fingers 96 also permit
limited longitudinal movement of the connector plug 14 within the
opening 38 in the pedestal 36, to compensate for any slight
misalignment between the connector plug and one of the printed
circuit boards 30 when the printed circuit board is inserted into
the connector plug. Centering of the connector plug 14 in the
opening 38 in the pedestal 36 in a transverse direction is provided
by a rib 102 (FIGS. 3 and 4) in the opening which is receivable
between the latches 98 on the resilient fingers 96 of the connector
plug in relatively close-fitting relationship.
Referring to FIG. 4, the majority of the I/O connectors 16 are
mounted on the main body 34 of the backplane 12 on the stepped
portions 56, 57 and 60 of the main body. However, the I/O
connectors 16 also may be mounted on raised portions of the main
body 34 in line with the rows of the edge connector plugs 14, as
illustrated by one of the I/O connectors 16 in the upper left-hand
corner of FIG. 4.
Referring to the center of FIG. 5, as in the case of the printed
circuit board edge connector plugs 14, the I/O connectors 16 may be
of any suitable construction and are shown as being of a snap-in
type, having an elongated plastic body 104 with integrally formed
resilient latch fingers 106 projecting therefrom adjacent opposite
ends thereof. The resilient latch fingers 106 are receivable
through respective apertures 108 in the backplane 12 and have latch
portions engageable in recesses 110 on the opposite side of the
backplane, to secure the connector to the backplane. Each of the
I/O connectors 16 also includes two rows of insulation-displacement
terminals 112 mounted in the body 104 thereof adjacent
wire-receiving guide slots of the body. In addition, each I/O
connector 16 includes a cap member 114 for each row of the
terminals 112, with each cap member having wire-receiving slots
(not shown) in which associated ones of the wires 18 can be fanned
and then pressed into their respective terminals 112 in the
connector body 104 as the cap member is mounted on the body. Each
of the cap members 114 also includes resilient latching fingers 115
for retaining the cap member on the connector body 104.
Since the manner in which the wires 18 are routed between the edge
connector plugs 14 and the I/O connectors 16 forms no part of this
invention, only a representative sampling of the wires are shown in
FIG. 4. In this connection, in wiring of the I/O connectors 16 to
the connector plugs 14 with the wires 18, each of the wires is
inserted in one of the terminals 112 in a respective one of the I/0
connectors, and then routed to an associated edge connector plug in
one of the rows of connector plugs and inserted in respective
terminals 82 (FIG. 2) in this plug. The wire 18 then is
successively inserted in terminals 82 in other associated edge
connector plugs 14 in the same row of connector plugs to form a
wire "mult" in a known manner. Additional ones of the wires 18 are
routed from the grounding rod 74 and the power input lug 77 to the
connector plugs 14 in a similar manner. Subsequently, when the
completely wired backplane assembly 10 is mounted in the
transmission bay module 20 (FIG. 1), the assembly is electrically
connected to associated central office equipment by an installer
inserting additional connecting wires (not shown) in the terminals
112 (FIG. 5) of the I/O connectors 16 utilizing the
fanning-and-insertion cap members 114, and by connecting ground and
power conductors to the grounding bar 74 (FIG. 4) and the power
input lug 77 (FIG. 4).
In connecting the wires 18 to the connector plugs 14, the wires may
be routed in the central channel 40 of the backplane 12, around the
periphery of the backplane in the channels 41, and/or in the branch
channels 42 of the backplane, in any preselected manner, as
desired. In this regard, referring to the right-hand side of FIG.
5, since the edge connector plugs 14 are elevated substantially
relative to the bottoms of the branch channels 42 as a result of
the connector plugs being mounted on the channel-defining pedestals
36, the portions of the wires 18 disposed in the branch channels
and the portions of the wires interconnecting the connector plugs
do not interfere with one another, as is apparent in this
figure.
In the backplane assembly 10 disclosed herein, the connector plugs
14 on the pedestals 36, with the exception of the two right-hand
connector plugs in each row, as viewed in FIG. 3, are used in
conjunction with signaling circuit boards 30 in the communications
bay module 20. The right-hand connector plugs 14 in each row in
FIG. 3 are used in conjunction with power supply circuit boards 30
and the next adjacent connector plugs in each row are used in
conjunction with common control circuit boards 30. In this
connection, the plug-centering ribs 102 in the pedestal openings 38
in which the signaling circuit connector plugs 14 are received may
cooperate with a projection 116 (FIG. 1) on the associated printed
circuit board 30 to prevent insertion of the printed circuit board
in one of the connector plugs in an inverted position. Similarly,
the pedestal openings 38 in the backplane 12 for the power supply
and common control circuit connector plugs 14 may be provided with
an additional rib 118 at the opposite end of the opening, as shown
in FIG. 3, to prevent inadvertent insertion of one of the signaling
circuit boards 30 into either of these connector plugs.
Each of the connector plug-receiving openings 38 in the backplane
12 is of identical size except the opening for one of the power
supply connector plugs 14 at the lower right-hand corner of the
backplane, as viewed in FIG. 3 (lower left corner of the backplane
as viewed in FIG. 4). The latter opening 38 is of double size and
illustrates a condition in which it may be necessary to mount one
of the connector plugs 14 in either of two positions in the
opening, depending on the configuration of the associated power
supply circuit board 30 to be received in the connector plug, as
for example, a single printed circuit board in one instance, or a
mother-daughter printed circuit board combination in another
instance.
In summary, a new and improved backplane assembly 10 for use in a
communications bay module 20 has been disclosed. The backplane
assembly 10 includes a unitary molded plastic backplane 12 having
high strength and resistance to flexing, for supporting the edge
connector plugs 14, the I/O connectors 16 and the interconnecting
wires 18 of the assembly. The high strength and resistance to
flexing of the backplane 12 is produced as a result of the
essentially ribbed construction of the backplane defined by the
connector plug-supporting pedestals 36, and as a result of the
stepped construction of the I/O connector-supporting portions 56,
57 and 60. The pedestals 36 also define the central channel 40, the
side channels 41 and the branch channels 42, for receiving the
wires 18. In addition, the projecting legs 44 of the backplane 12
permit inverting of the completed backplane assembly 10 and
supporting of the backplane assembly on a support surface without
damage to the connector plugs 14, the I/O connectors 16 and/or
disruption of the wires 18. Damage to adjacent wires 18 during
mounting of the backplane 12 to the upper support shelf 24 of the
communications bay module 20 by the screws 66 (FIG. 6) is precluded
by the screws being received within the projecting cylindrical
housings 68 of the backplane. Further, proper alignment of the
backplane 12 in the transmission bay module 20 is facilitated by
the alignment tabs 48, the alignment tab-receiving recesses 50, and
the alignment lugs 62 and 64.
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